USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 58
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Peter Johnson was born in Landstrop, Denmark, September 2, 1855, and employed his youth up to his fourteenth year in obtaining an education. In working on a farm, he passed the remainder of his years, until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he came to America, landing at New York City. Ile came directly to Monona County and located near Moorhead, in Spring Valley Township, where he was engaged in agricultural
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pursuits, for about eleven months, but longing for the old home, in May 1878, he returned to New York City, and taking passage on one of the In- man steamers, went back to Denmark by way of England. A few months' farming in that country convinced him of his mistake, so he returned to the United States, landing, this time, at Boston and after a few weeks spent in that city, came back to Monona County. He engaged again in farming in Spring Valley Township, but in 1881, having purchased eighty acres of land on section 13, Sioux Township, he removed to that sub-division of the county and has since made his home there.
Mr. Johnson was married March 31, 1879, to Miss Mary Nelson, the daughter of Nels Peder- son and who was born near Veiby, Denmark, June 6, 1858. IIer parents still reside in the old coun- try. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of nine children: Anna Mary, born Jannary 4, 1880; James, January 8, 1881 ; Nettie, February 2, 1882; Cristen, January 28, 1883; John. April 5, 1884; Maggie, born April 6, 1885, and died January 28, 1886; Maggie, born November 15, 1886; Tenie, July 28, 1888, and Martin, August 4, 1889.
LEXANDER F. GRAY. Among the rep- resentative farmers of the county, who have been the architects of their own for- tune, and have raised themselves from comparative poverty to a state of comfort and atlluence, is the gentleman of whom this epitome is written. lle is a native of Ontario, Canada, born September 18, 1845, and is a son of John and Mary (Fishier) Gray. His father was a native of the same Dominion, and his mother of Scotland. They came West with their family, and purchased a farm on section 12, township 83, range 46, Franklin where they still reside.
Alexander was rearedl in the land of his birth, availing himself of the facilities for obtaining an education, and assisted his father in carrying on the home farm until attaining his majority. Ue then purchased about fifty acres of land in the neighborhood, which he tilled for three years and
then sold. In 1871, with his father's family. he came to Monona County, arriving here May 13. Being in extremely limited circumstances, he worked out at farm labor for several of the people, at good wages so as to increase his little capital, and in 1874, having in this way acquired some means, chiefly through economy and diligence, he purchased eighty acres of land upon section 28, upon which he now resides. To this farm he has since added forty acres on section 29, making : neat and compact farm of one hundred and twenty acres, fifty of which is under cultivation, the bal- anee in grass and pasture.
Alexander Gray and Sarah Cunningham plighted their mutual faith and trust at the marriage altar January 1, 1875, in the city of Onawa. The lady is a native of Ireland, born in December, 1843, and is the daughter of Samuel and Frances (Porter) Cunningham. By this union there have been born three children-James (deceased), Samuel J., and Porter A.
12 ELS JOHNSON, a prominent and well-to- do farmer of Sioux Township, residing on section 11, is a native of Denmark and was born near Landstrup, August 5, 1852. ITis father. Jens Nelson, was born in the same place in 1822, and after having received a fair education in his youth, followed a seafaring life. In his later years he became a deep sea fisherman off the coast, but has now retired from active life, and is liv- ing in his native town. He was married in 1850 to Inger Maria Cristensen, a native of the same country, who was born in 1824, and they had a family of thirteen children, of whom twelve are living, ten in the United States.
Nels, the eldest child of his parents, went to school until he was some fourteen years of age, receiving a good common-school education, and at the age of twenty-one, crossing the ocean to the United States, landed in Boston October 15, 1873. Ile remained in that city and in the vicinity until the Ist of July. 1876, where, after a little while engaged in farming, he for a time was conductor on
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the street car hne. From thero bo came to Harri- son County, lowa, and that summer was engaged at farm labor near Dunlap, but in November, 1876, settled in Spring Valley Township, Monona County, where he took up the vocation of a farmer's life on rented land. Two years later he removed to Sioux Township and purchased eighty acres of wild land, to which he has since added until now he owns some two hundred and ten arres. all of which is improved, and has excellent buildings upon it. Ile is engaged also in the raising of some stock, to which he devotes a share of his attention.
Mr. Johnson was married JJanuary 17, 1879, to Miss Minnie Knoff, who was born near llorseus, Denmark, August 5, 1859, and is the danghter of Cristen and Rebekka ( Andersen) Knoff. By this union they have a family of five children-Inger Mary, born December 21, 1880; Knoff, born April 7, 1882, who died Angust 6, 1882; Knoff, born July 17, 1883; Rebecca, July 19, 1885, and Jen- nie, October 20, 1887.
NDREW J. LYNCH1. the leading hard- ware dealer in the active go-ahead village of Castana, came to that place in the fall of 1886, and purchased a lot and commenced the erection of a store building 22x50 feet in size, suitable for his business. This was not com- pleted until about the 1st of December, but previ- ous to this, in obedience to the demand of trade, he had filled it with a stock and commenced business, although during the snow storm that occurred about the middle of November in that year, the soft and fleecy flakes were blown in great abund- ance into the buikling and raised great drifts and banks in corners and nooks, and the wind whistled about the ears of both customers and salesmen. Ile carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, and farm machinery, and by fair and honest deal- ing has won a numerous patronage.
Mr. Lynch was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., September 22, 1852, and is the son of Michael and Margaret (Sullivan) Lynch, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Ilis father came to the United
States in search of the liberty denied him in his own country, and the chance to rise in the world, so dear to the heart of every member of the Celtic race, and was here married in 1830. He is the father of five children-Michael, John, Peter, Charles and Andrew J.
Our subject, who was born in a log house, re- ceived his earlier and only education in a rough log schoolhouse. Hle removed with the family in 1868. to Cedar County, Iowa, where in 1875, (up to which time he had made his home with the pa- rental household), he started in life for himself, farming in that county. Two years later, in com- pany with S. R. Houghton, he engaged in the hard- ware business at Stanwood, a village in Cedar County, and remained in partnership with him until 1881, when disposing of his interest to a Mr. Nickey, Mr. Lynch came to Danbury, Woodbury County, where he purchased a partnership in the hardware and farm-machinery business of William Cook, thus forming the firm of Cook & Lynch. About a year later Mr. Cook sold out to .I. F. Means, the firm name and style being changed to Lynch & Means. This continued until the fall of 1886, when, dissolving the partnership and divid- ing the stock, Mr. Lynch came to Castana as above noted.
At Clarence, Cedar County, Iowa, December 12, 1875, Mr. Lynch was united in marriage with Miss Mary Penney, who died August 17, 1880, leaving two children-Charles and Nellie. December 6, 1882, Mr. Lynch was again married, the bride on this occasion being Mrs. Augusta C. Arlington nee Eherke, of Lowden, Iowa, and by this union is the parent of one child-Edna.
Le ORENZO D. BEARCE, the present County Recorder, is a native of Foxcraft, Piscata- quis County. Me., born March 8, 1839, and is the son of Sydney and Ruth B. (Ilersey ) Bearee. His father, a native of Minot, Me, when a young man removed to Foxcraft, where he was mar- ried and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1850. Mrs. Bearee was
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born February 19, 1810, and was the daughter of Noah and Phoebe Hersey, and died in 1847. Her parents were also natives of Mainc, where her father died. Her mother was born April 13, 1791; (lied in lowa in 1881. Aseph Howard, the father of Phoebe Hersey, and the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, was born March 19, 1768, and died about 1862, in Maine, and was the son of John Howard, a native of the same State, born January 31, 1721, a de- seendant of the Bradfords who came over in the Mayflower, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Lorenzo D. Bearee was reared at home upon a farm and laid the foundation of his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. At the age of nineteen he entered the High School at North Brookfield, Mass., where he remained one year and then came to Iowa, locating at Wankon, Allamakee County, where he turned his attention to carpen- tering. Shortly after this he took a position as a clerk in a store, in which he was employed. when on September 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Iowa Infantry. After passing some time in the camps of instruction at Dubuque and St. Louis, with the regiment he took the field. Ile participated in the engagement at Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson and Pittsburg Landing, an l at the latter battle, with most of his regiment, was taken pris- oner and confined in the rebel prison pens at Mont- gomery, Ala., Macon, Ga., and Libby, Richmond. From the latter he was paroled and afterward exchanged. Early in 1863 the regiment was re- organized and with it our subject took part in the Vicksburg campaign, and was in service in Missis- sippi and Tennessee until December, 1864, when he was a participant in the sanguinary, but glorious battle at Nashville, where Hood's army was com- pletely annihilated. In the capture of Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakely he was present with his noble regiment, after which lie was employed in garrison duty until his final discharge, which was given him at Davenport, Iowa, January 25, 1866. Returning to Waukon he there remained one year, but in the spring of 1867, came to Monona County and turned his attention to farming and stock-raising in Kennebee Township. In the fall of 1882, Mr. Bearce received the nomination of the Republican
convention for the office of County Recorder, to which he was elected by the people, and has been re-elected his own successor ever since. He is a member of Hanscom Post, No. 97, G. A. R., at Onawa.
Mr. Bearce was married October 18, 1870, to Luzetta E. Crouch, who was born in Monroe County, N. Y .. November 10, 1850, and is the father of two children; Arthur L., born August I. 1871 ; and Althea L., June 18. 1876.
C HIESTER W. DALEY, one of the leading farmers of Sherman Township, has his home- like residence on section 4. where he has some two hundred and sixty acres of land, all well- improved, and upon which he is engaged to a large extent in stock-raising. He; is a native of Wood- bury, Litchfield County, Conn., and was born Au- gust 29, 1826. llis father, Stephen Daley, was born in Connecticut in 1800, and married Miss Alvira Wheeler, a native of the same State, who was born in 1802. The former died November 6, 1887, having been preceded in death by his wife, who "passed to the other shore" October 11, 1882.
Chester W. Daley, who was the second in a family of four children born to his parents, com- menced life for himself at the age of twenty-three years, after having: received the rudiments of an excellent education in his New England home, and adopting farming as a vocation in life, removed to Cortland County, N. Y., where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1875. He then removed to Monona County and settled in Sherman Town- ship, where he has since resided.
November 21, 1849, in Litehfield County, Conn., Mr. Daley was united in marriage with Miss Susan E. IIont, a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., who was born January 11, 1828. Iler father, Edward .J. Hunt, was born in Dover, N. Y., September 15, 1789, and her mother, Sarah (Cowles) Hunt, at Bethlehem, Conn., November 12, 1800.
Mr. and Mrs. Daley are the parents of three children, of whom the following is a record: Ed. ward II., who was born April 1, 1851, married
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Miss Rena Cobb. Jamfory 30. 1886, and is a resi- dent of Geneva, Neb. , Roderick IL. who was born Derember 21, 1852. married Miss Catherine Gay, a native of New York, October 9, 1873, and re- sides with his wife and two children in New York ; and William IL., who was born August 15, 1855, married Miss Luella Knight, a native of this State, July 20, 1881. and lives in Blencoe, Sherman Township, although assisting his father in carrying on the home farm.
Mr. Daley is in polities a Democrat of the old school, and cast his first vote for President for James K. Polk, who defeated Henry Clay for that office in 181.
RANK T. SPENCER, the popular landlord of the Spencer House, at Onawa, was born in Novi, Oakland County, Mich .. January 1, 1855, and is the son of Ilarry and Julia ( Baker) Speneer. His great-grandfather Spencer served as a soldier in the Continental Army, during the dark and trying days of the Revolutionary War, and dicit at the advanced age of one hundred and five years. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Joseph Spencer and Electa Spencer were residents of the State of New York where they were eu- gaged in farming. They had a family of eight children, of whom larry, the father of our sub- ject was one. The latter was born at Port Henry. Essex County. N. Y., March 24, 1816. March 15, 1838 he married Miss Julia Baker, at Granville Corners, the same State. llis wife was a native of Chazy. Clinton County. N. Y., and was born July 2. 1818. They had a family of seven children born upon the following dates: Electa, July 15, 1842; Matilda, January 28, 1815; Henry, December 5, 1850; Mary, April 23, 1852, Frank T., January 1, 1855; Flora, June 2. 1862 and Samuel, Novem- ber 2, 1865.
Of the maternal grandparents of F. T. Spencer the following record has been kept: John Baker. his grandfather, was a soldier in the United States army and was present at the battle of Plattsburg, N. Y .. in 1813 While he was absent the hostile Indians came to the settlement where he resided
and impaled a child. but on reaching the house of Mrs. Martha Baker, they found her busily engaged in boiling soap, and on their attempting to commit depredations there, she heroically faced them, and with ladles full of the boiling soap held them at bay and finally drove them off, and nothing could induce them to return to that locality.
Frank Spencer was reared upon a farm in Mich- igan, whither his parents had removed previous to his birth and received his education in the district schools of Novi in that State. On attaining his majority he removed to the city of Detroit, and for five years served on the police force, making an excellent officer. At the expiration of that time in 1882 he came to fowa, and settling in Monona County, went to work in the Onawa Ilouse, with J. E. Morrison. Eight months later he took up farming on a farm in Belvidere, where he re . mained some four years, and then returned to Onawa, and assumed his old position of clerk of the Onawa House. January 1, 1888, he was ap- pointed Deputy Sheriff under L. D. Kittle and served about six months. Purchasing the old Wal- ton House, he then entered upon his career as land- lord, changing the name of the hotel to its present one and has succeeded in making it one of the leading places of entertainment in the county.
On December 6, 1876, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Frederica Howe, the daughter of John L. and Araminta B. (Coonly) llowe, both of whom are residents of the county, living at Castana. By this union there have been two interesting children born, Angie II. and Julia J., both of whom are living.
E NGEBRET EVANSON, a highly suecessful and substantial farmer of Soldier Town- ship, and a prominent representative of the Scandinavian settlers of that section of the conn- ty, has his residence on section 30, where he set- tled on coming here, in the spring of 1868, making bis home at that time at Mr. Thoreson's until fall. Hle by that time got up a small frame house, into which he removed and broke about twenty acres of
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land. He and A. Thoreson purchased eighty acres in partnership. From his limited circumstances in those days, by his own industry and energy he has risen to a position of comparative wealth, and his neat and commodious residence is surrounded by a large and productive farm of four hundred aeres of land, one hundred and forty of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation.
In Norway, April 13, 1829, was born to Evan Knutson and his wife Tora, a son, who is the sub- ject of this sketch. In his native land he received a fair education in his youth, and at the age of twenty-two years, in company with his mother and sister, his father having died, he crossed the ocean to America, leaving Norway April 13, 1852, and arriv at their destination, Manitowoc County, Wis., August 18. He remained in that locality about five years, and removed thence to La Crosse Connty, in the same State, where he purchased a farm and made his home until coming to Monona County, in 1868. After paying his way to Amer- iea, Mr. Evanson found that he was without a cent and he owed a small amount besides, but going to work with the characteristic energy of his people, and by thrift and frugality he has succeeded in building up his own fortunes to their present ex- cellent condition, a record of which he may justly feel proud.
Mr. Evanson was united in marriage June 26. 1862, in La Crosse Connty, Wis., with Miss Carrie Olson, a native of Norway, born October 30, 1841, and daughter of Ole and Carrie (Nelson ) Olson.
G EORGE A. WELSH, one of the Trustees of Sherman Township, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 33, in that subdivision of the county, was born near Waynesburg, Franklin County, Pa., November 15, 1817, and is the son of John L. and Mary A. (Reed) Welsh. His father, John Levi Welsh, was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, of German ancestry, and his grandfather servel in the American army during the last war with Great Britain, in 1812-15. Mrs. Mary A. (Reed) Welsh, the mother of our
subject, was also a native of the Keystone State, her birth occurring in 1819. She was married near Waynesburg about 1836, and in 1855 removed to Sangamon County, Ill., where the father died March 14, 1880, and the mother July 3, 1884. They had a family of thirteen children, of whom seven are living. Mrs. Welsh was a niece of the famous Gen. Reed, of Revolutionary fame.
George A. Welsh, the sixth child of his parents was but eight years of age when the family re- moved to Illinois. and in that State was reared and drew his education from the common schools of Sangamon County. At the age of twenty two years he commenced life for himself, engaging in agriculture in that portion of the Prairie State. Being endowed with a strong heart and willing hands, he soon acquired some little property, upon which he settled down, and upon which he made his home until 1881, when with a natural desire to extend the scope of his efforts, he came to Iowa and located in Carroll County. In the spring of 1885 he came farther West and located on eighty aeres of land, which he had purchased in Sherman Township, this county, to which he has since added eighty more, and has the whole of it well-improved and highly cultivated.
Mr. Welsh entered into a matrimonial alliance August 7, 1870, leading to the altar Miss Rhoda A. Mann, a native of Marshall County, Iowa, and the daughter of Jacob L. and Mary (Allen) Mann. By this union they had a family of ten children: Jacob L., George A., Henry F., Mary Ada, Bessie, Ollie, Christopher, John, Freddie and Elmer. Ollie died in infancy.
Mr. Walsh is a stanch Democrat in his political views, an I was elected one of the Trustees of the township in the fall of 1888. Socially, he is a member of Assembly No. 1022, K. of L .. Joeated at Bleneve.
ORNELIUS S. SEVERSON, senior member of the firm of Severson & Torrison, leading dealers in general merchandise of the vil- lage of Ute, came to Monona County in the fall of 1×68, with his parents, and settled on a farm on
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section 6. in opport |www. Willow Township. There he remained until the spring of 1879, when renting a farm in Spring Valley, he started out in life for himself. For several years he was engaged in ag- rieultural pursuits in this county, after which, in 1882, be removed to Wheeler County, Neb. Lo- enting a homestead in that region, he held it about one year, and then selling out his claim, removed to Albion. Boone County, the same State, where he was employed as clerk in a general merchandise store until May 1881. Returning at that period to this county, in company with his brother, O. B., he put up a store room in the village of U'te, and commenced their present business under the firm name of Severson Bros. April 3, 1889, O. B. Sev- erson was succeeded by Torges C. Torrison, and the present lirm was formed.
Mr. Severson was born in La Crosse County, Wis .. April 1, 1859, and is the son of James and Cornelia (Severson) Severson. He was married at Maple Landing, Monona County, April 21, 1889, to Miss Mand Marshall, a native of Butler County, Ohio, and daughter of James and Martha Marshall.
OIN F. BEERS, an old and highly respected agriculturist of Kennebec Township, is numbered among the pioneers of Monona County, having come to this locality from Kendall County, III., in the fall of 1858, arriving here September 3. In company with James Will- iams and Jacob Fikel, he drove through from that portion of the country and settled on the land where he now lives, on section 7, and during the same fall, hanling the lumber of which it is built, black walnut and cottonwood, from Onawa.
Mr. Beers was born in Washington County, N. Y., October 28, 1817, and is the son of Daniel and Mary ( Fairley) Beers. His father, of old Puritanic stock, was born in Connecticut and died near Troy, N. Y., in the fall of 18-17. 1lis mother, who eame with him to this county, passed to her rest, from his home, April 26, 1863. Among the hills aud fertile valleys of his native county, our subject received his education and early adopted
the peaceful avocations of farm life. When he was about twenty-nine years of age, his uncle, John Fairley, gave him a farm of eighty-eight acres in Washington County, upon which he lived some seven years and, while there, was married. In Jan- uary, 1852, he sold out his property in the Em- pire State and for the succeeding six years made his home in Kendall County, Ill., on a farm, whenee he removed to this county. He has been identified with all the interests of this part of the State and has grown with the county from its earliest days, and has witnessed its development from an almost uninhabited wilderness to its present prosperous and populous condition.
The marriage of Mr. Beers took place December 14, 1813. the bride upon the occasion being Miss Lurana C. Sanderson, a native of Massachusetts. born June 16, 1825, and the daughter of Lyman and Hannah W. ( Barstow) Sanderson. Her father was born in Massachusetts in 1790 and died in Meigs County, Ohio, in 1847. Her mother's death took place at Readsville, Ohio, in 1882, at the age of eighty-two years. By this union Mr. and Mrs. Beers are the parents of four children, as follows: Sarah E., born November 1, 1844; Mary C., Jan- uary 11, 1847; John S., November 1, 1862; and Mark J., September 16, 1871.
Jesse M. Beers, brother of our subject, was born in Salem, N. Y., August 25, 1820, and came to Monona County with John F., and resided with him until his death, which took place April 25, 1882. Never seeing the woman of his choice he lived in single blessedness.
ESSE J. PECK, an extensive and respected farmer and general stock-raiser, of Sioux Township, Monona County, and ex-Sheriff of Harrison County, has his residence upon section 36, which is surrounded by his large and well-cultivated farm of three hundred and twenty acres. ITe was born in Piekaway County, Ohio, October 23, 1839.
Mr. Peck was united in marriage August 25, 1861, with Miss Mary E. Murray, in Denver,
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Colo. The lady is a native of Kilmarnock, Scot- land, born May 6, 1845, and has been the mother of eight children.
In the fall of 1869 MFr. Peck was elected Sheriff of Harrison County and served six years, being re- elected his own successor twice. At the expiration of his term of office he removed to Sioux Town- ship, Monona County, and engaged in farming upon the place which he had purchased in 1871, but, one year later. returned to Harrison County, where he made his home until February1, 1880, at which date he made a permanent settlement upon the land where he now resides.
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